How can you maintain a positive reputation as a consultant in Live Events?

1. Listen first to really understand, question every brief.. 2. Create solutions with the client, the best solutions are co-created. 3. Exceed expectations - be clear and explicitly agree the outcomes and requirements to be able to do this.

Never promise something you can't deliver but always deliver at minimum what you promised. My goal is to engage, educate, empower, encourage and exceed expectations. Build relationships across differences, be relevant and facilitate self-awareness. Also,people should know their "why" and be willing to learn from others. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know. Be a lifelong learner and teacher.

I have always tried to maintain a positive and professional attitude towards suppliers and exhibitors and build rapport and a relationship. I try to be open and honest with them, understanding their needs and try to do my best to accommodate circumstances to the best of my abilities. I don't over promise, but try to deliver the best possible experience. Everyone that attends events and exhibitions all have different view points on what they want to get out of it so its important to be able to listen and if I don't know the answer there and then, communicate that and find out the answer.

I agree. I see so many people in this business with different skills. There are some people who are really good at logistics, strategy, execution, sales, marketing, etc. I think as a contractor it is so important to sell and market yourself as an expert in your specialized field. I specialize in logistics and sell myself as that as it is what I am an expert at. I can do other things and will if a client ask but they know what my specialty is.

Having provided Audio/Visual tech support for a variety of events from corporate events, conferences, concerts and festivals, it is important to come as close as possible to presenting the client's event as they've envisioned it. While doing so don't be afraid to go the extra mile to produce that goal. The client will always remember that. This builds trust in your brand. Be sure that the lines of communication are open, addressing as many questions and issues that may occur. For us, if there is a service outside of our wheel hosue we will help the client to locate the right provider of that particular service if possible. This may mean earning less, but you will have fulfilled the goal of producing a successful event for the client.

In my experience in corporate events, I have found that a high quality event can mean different things to different clients. Before diving into an event, it is important to have conversations with clients to determine their most important goals and priorities. Once you understand what they want to achieve, you're set up to help them get the best version of what they want delivered through a high quality event that's tailored to their needs.

One thing I have found valuable in delivering quality work is “ communication “ it is vital to update, respond and follow through. I am often told we appreciate you always getting to us.

Delivering the highest quality of work is Paramount in any position for any company. I spent nearly 40 years with McDonald’s corporation is the Director of real estate litigation, negotiating with many people, worldwide, training, McDonald’s real estate, representatives, and being a good conversationalist.

There is no substitute for doing the work, the way it is meant to be done. But like Will Guidara, you can always go above and beyond to overdeliver on everyone's expectations. Those moments where you wow people with your effort, energy, and desire, will create a separation between you and your competition.

At the end of the day it always comes down to quality results that make the client proud to have chosen you. Anything less has a very short shelf life.

Give them too! Always be willing to offer a testimonial or referral to anyone you enjoy working with and it will come back tenfold to you!

My Linkedin page has become my portfolio! This is where I post my accomplishments/ongoing projects and it gives my clients a natural opportunity to provide public facing feedback.

It's always good to get feedback and testimonials can be essential to getting more work if you're a sole trader. Everyone looks at reviews before buying a product and it's no different when hiring.

In the fast-paced world of live events, I recently realized the immense value of continuous learning. After completing a course on Emerging Technologies in Live Events, I was able to integrate augmented reality and AI into a client's event, significantly enhancing the audience experience. This not only broadened my expertise but also led to highly positive feedback from the client. For anyone in this field, I strongly suggest investing time in similar educational pursuits. Keeping up with the latest trends and technologies is essential for innovation and staying competitive in our industry.

Our industry is ever-changing; so shall you be ever-growing and learning with the evolution of our profession. Be curious... be daring... be experimental.. be bold... Do something weird and wonderful. Your audiences will thank (remember) you.

We should always work to prioritize ethical behavior by providing honest advice, respecting client confidentiality, and avoiding conflicts of interest. Foster open communication, deliver results with integrity, and continuously update your skills to provide valuable, up-to-date insights. Building strong, trust-based relationships with clients is essential for a positive professional reputation.

This goes for any industry really. And it comes back to how you want people to remember you. Having respect for your colleagues, confidentiality, the work you do, the people around you, your customers, vendors, the land and event space leads to positive experiences. The events industry is tough enough without people who lack respect for the things happening around them.

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” - C.S. Lewis This affects every person, regardless of occupation or presentation. Say what you mean, and do what you say. You will make mistakes, there will be fails, but your reputation will precede you, in how you handled the previous fails. The fails are to be expected, but integrity is expected even more, with whomever you do business. “A good name is more desirable than great riches, and favor is better than silver and gold.” - Proverbs 22:1

Kindness and compassion go the longest distance in an industry that's quite hard on employees' emotions and work/life balance. Being kind, no matter the stresser is a key to embodying an exemplary events professional.

There are lots of people who can perform with unlimited budget and resources but your utility players that understand the constraints whether budgetary, staffing, resources and communicate and reinforce expectations. It’s important to surprise and delight the end attendee of the event but also keep the team grounded on what is realistic and possible.

In this profession you must always follow up and follow through with commitments. So many will offer guidance and advice, but not check in on the progress of those tasks needed to ensure a smooth and enjoyable event. This includes the event providers. Be available to lend a hand wherever needed so clients are free to interact with their guests, knowing you have the details handled.